June 2017

Who Chooses? Part 6

 
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Copied from the sermon notes of Pastor Don Elmore

July 2, 2017

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 1:11

I have quoted our President many times in this series, when he said that, Israel, meaning the Jews, are our great friend. That statement alone turns my stomach. It convinced me how I feel about our leader. It is the same as Pastor Ken Kemble felt of our last President, “He isn’t my President.”

But for the average Christian, Mr. Trump’s comments about this one subject don’t bother them. Why is this? It seems that very few Judeo-Christians will change their opinion about the Jews, even when they are told what Jews have said about the situation. Elizabeth Dilling is one of the rare ones. When she read in the Talmud about what the Jews believe about Jesus the Messiah, she was horrified and shocked. She changed her theology completely and spent her life trying to get the message out to her fellow Christians.

But there are many Christians who put down the importance of doctrine. Some say, “I have the Holy Spirit, why should I worry about correct doctrine?” The word “doctrine” is simply another word for “teaching.” The doctrines of Christianity are the teachings that define Christianity. If you claim to believe in Jesus and to be filled with the Holy Spirit, you are speaking in doctrinal terms. “Who is Jesus?” and “What does it mean to be filled with the Holy Spirit?” are doctrinal issues. And who chooses whom for salvation is another very important, fundamental Christian doctrine, isn’t it?